Stanley Arthur McGrorty, 56, died July 16 at Alaska Regional Hospital, Anchorage, of a heart attack. A Post Everlasting Ceremony is 6 p.m. Friday, July 26 at the American Legion Post 16, East End Road. His ashes will be scattered over Kachemak Bay at a later date.

Mr. McGrorty was born Feb. 23, 1946, in Los Angeles. He served in the U.S. Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He first came to Alaska in 1967, when he was posted to Fort Richardson, Anchorage. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army there, he went back to Los Angles, only to return to Alaska a short time later to live in Anchorage, where he met Pat Poole, whom he married in 1970. They lived in Anchorage for six years, and he earned his bachelor of arts in geology at the University of Alaska Anchorage. While in Anchorage, he worked at Union Oil Asphalt Plant and later became the company's sales representative for Anchorage and most plants north. The McGrortys moved to Homer with their two children, Dawn and Sean, in 1976. He owned and operated Quicky Mart in Homer. At the time of his death, he was in Anchorage working on the state's task force for revising and updating the Alaska rules and regulations on charitable gaming.

Mr. McGrorty was Commander of the Army National Guard, Homer, and active in American Legion Post 16. He was a strong supporter of American Legion Baseball and other youth programs. His family called him "the volunteer of volunteers." He helped revive the American Legion baseball program and girls fast-pitch softball in Homer. Mr. McGrorty started Ducks Unlimited in Homer in the early 1980s and was state chairman and a recipient of the Trustee Emeritus award. He loved hunting and fishing, American Legion baseball and volunteering his time and energy to many activities and organizations in Homer and Alaska.

His family said, "We will remember him as an extremely generous man, larger than life itself." His wife said "Stan once said 'It is hard to judge the character and worth of a man.' Just by looking at his children you can see what a good man he was. His children can be very proud of their father, as am I."

Mr. McGrorty was preceded in death by his mother, Vera McGrorty. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Pat; his daughter and son-in-law, Dawn and Jules Ravin, his son Sean McGrorty and grandson Joseph Ravin, all of Homer; father, Red McGrorty, brother and sister-in-law Larry and Patti McGrorty, niece Shannon and nephews Mike and Kevin McGrorty, all of Oregon; mother- and father-in-law Wayne and Eva Poole and sisters- and brothers-in-law Vivian, Kathy, Mark and Debbie, all of California, and brother-in-law Mike Poole of Homer; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in 29 Palms, Calif.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Legion baseball or the youth activity of the donor's choice. An account has been set up at First National Bank Alaska, 3655 Heath St., Homer 99603, account number 30174452.